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Kalama School District No. 402 Proposition 2

Bonds to Construct and Improve School FacilitiesThe Board of Directors of Kalama School District No. 402 adopted Resolution No. 2017/18-04, concerning a proposition to relieve overcrowding, improve educational opportunities and safety. This proposition would authorize the District to: construct a new elementary school to replace the existing Kalama Elementary School; construct a new middle school addition adjacent to Kalama High School; acquire and install air conditioning at Kalama High School; issue no more than $63,405,000 of general obligation bonds maturing within 25 years; and levy annual excess property taxes to repay the bonds, all as provided in Resolution No. 2017/18-04. Explanatory StatementPassage of Proposition 2 would authorize Kalama School District to issue $63,405,000 of bonds to: (1) construct a new elementary school, on a site behind the existing maintenance building, that will include: classrooms for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (“STEM”); cafeteria; art and music/drama rooms; kitchen; commons; library; multipurpose room; full sized gymnasium; parking and traffic circulation; removal of the existing elementary school and relocation of existing athletic fields; (2) construct a new middle school addition adjacent to Kalama High School that will include: middle and high school classrooms (including STEM and vocational classrooms); kitchen; cafeteria; commons; library; weight room (subject to sufficient Bond proceeds); and (3) acquire and install air conditioning at Kalama High School.The School Board determined overcrowding, deteriorating and educationally outdated infrastructure and classrooms, and student security and safety made these projects necessary. The District expects to receive approximately $5,900,000 in State match to help complete these projects. The bonds will be repaid from annual excess property taxes over a period of 25 years. The District estimates a tax rate for this bond of approximately $2.25 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $37.50 per month for a $200,000 home. With passage of this new bond proposition, the District anticipates that the bond tax rate will increase from $2.17 in 2018 to $3.75 in 2019, for an approximate total increase of $1.58.Exemptions from taxes may be available to certain homeowners. To determine if you qualify, call the Cowlitz County Assessor at 360.577.3010.